When sharks bite, Hawaii tourism worries

BITING BACK: Sharks have attacked eight people this year in Hawaii, killing one.(AP Photo courtesy of Watchdog.org)

HONOLULU — It’s never good news when sharks attack. It’s even worse when someone dies from a shark bite.

But when eight shark attacks are reported in a single year, it could be devastating to Hawaii’s tourist-rich economy.

Jana Lutteropp, a 20-year-old German tourist on vacation in popular resort area in Maui, died Aug. 21 after a shark bit off her arm a week earlier. So far this year, there have been eight reports of shark attacks in Hawaii. In 2012, there were 10, the highest number on record.

Now the state Department of Land and Natural Resources wants to figure out what’s happening in the Pacific waters surrounding the island state. It’s allocated $186,000 for a two-year study to examine shark moves around the islands.

Even though DLNR chairman William Aila said the attacks “appear to be random events involving sharks of different species and different sizes,” the study will focus on one of the most aggressive sharks in Hawaiian waters — the tiger shark.

“There’s nothing we can yet discern that connects the incidents or provides any sort of explanation,” Aila said, adding that Carl Meyer, a marine biologist at the University of Hawaii will lead the effort.

“Every few years there’s a little spike, and we’ve now seen an unprecedented spike,” Aila said. “We are committed to furthering research efforts that will help guide effective management actions in the interest of safety.”

Photo courtesy of JanaAmerica BlogJana Lutteropp died after being attacked by a shark in Maui in August.

Sharks were hunted for their fins until June 2011 when the practice was banned by the Hawaii StateLegislature, in part because of protests from native Hawaiians who consider sharks sacred and an important part of their culture and religion. There are 11 shark-gods in the Hawaiian mythology. In addition, some native Hawaiians believe sharks are their guardians or ancestors.

Environmentalists also emphasized the importance of sharks to the marine ecosystems.

Mike McCartney, head of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, said he is not sure anything can be done to prevent the “rare” attacks, including the one that took the life of Lutteropp. But, he said, vigilance and common sense are the best safeguards.

“We want people to experience our people, place and culture and be safe. Our lifeguards are the best in world and well-trained,” McCartney said. “We hope people will listen to them.”

The DLNR also issued guidelines that if followed may prevent future shark attacks on people.

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

Hawaii Reporter is an award-winning, independent Hawaii-based news and opinion journal founded in 2001 and launched in February 2002. The journal's staff have won a number of top awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, including the top investigative news reporting awards, business reporting awards, government reporting awards, and online news reporting awards. Hawaii Reporter has a weekly television news show, News Behind the News, which airs on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.

Bad for tourism??? Not according to the typically arrogant folks over at the Hawaii Tourism Board! Their current Director was interviewed just last week in Honolulu, shortly after the tragic death of the young woman on Maui, and he clearly said that he and his colleagues did NOT expect recent shark attacks to affect Hawaii tourism. According to him, its just too beautiful there not to visit. Whatever you say, sir!